Musician Ray Harris's Memories of The Doors’ Strange Days: His Prelude Album, Asia Tours, Meeting The Doors & James Brown

Musician Ray Harris's Memories of The Doors’ Strange Days: His Prelude Album, Asia Tours, Meeting The Doors & James Brown

How does a phenomenal blend of dance-floor jazz, Latin rhythms, and deep groove funk come together with a lifelong love of 1960s counterculture? This week, Jamie sits down with Scottish musician, keyboardist, and songwriter Ray Harris to spin the dark, theatrical underbelly of The Doors' seminal second studio album, Strange Days. From a childhood captivated by 12-inch vinyl covers to falling in love with the piano at fourteen, Ray shares his musical journey. They also dive into Ray's incredible career highlights, from getting his music licensed in Japan and playing to crowds of 26,000 in Jakarta to supporting legends like James Brown, plus a deep dive into meeting members of The Doors and his new solo album, Prelude. EPISODE ROADMAP Childhood & Early Music Memories: Fascinated by 12-inch vinyl covers and discovering the analogue warmth of John Lennon. The Songwriter's Craft: How Ray captures raw emotions, personal observations, and life experiences through lyrics and melodies. The Journey to the Stage: Transitioning from playing covers in Glasgow bars to supporting legends like James Brown, Average White Band, and Nile Rodgers. The Asian Tour Experience: Playing to crowds of up to 26,000 people in Jakarta and the surreal reality of international success. Album Deep-Dive & Meeting The Doors: Exploring the dark, experimental 1967 masterpiece Strange Days, and Ray's surreal experience meeting Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger in Glasgow. The Friday Spin: A closer look at Ray Harris's stunning new studio album, Prelude, mastered at Abbey Road. STRANGE DAYS TRACK-BY-TRACK HIGHLIGHTS "Strange Days": The far-out, cinematic psychedelic opener that sets the tone for an entirely unique record. "Love Me Two Times": A traditional 12-bar blues elevated by an incredible, unconventional mid-section turnaround. "People Are Strange": An iconic anthem exploring identity, counterculture, and what it means to not conform to society. "When the Music's Over": A monumental, story-like finale featuring one of Ray's all-time favorite lyrical sentiments: “When the music is your special friend.” THE FRIDAY SPIN RECOMMENDATION For this week's special feature, we turn the spotlight entirely onto Ray's brilliant independent release: Jamie's Choice: Prelude (Album) by Ray Harris. Standout Tracks: "I Won't Let You Fall," "Shadows of My City," and the gorgeous 50s/60s-style ballad "My Dear Anna." The Vibe: An emotionally rich, beautifully crafted sonic soundscape born from personal reflection, featuring stunning artwork by Glasgow legend Groovy Graham. CONNECT WITH THE CLUB! Ray Harris Music: Check out Ray's website at rayharrismusic.net or find Prelude on Bandcamp and all major streaming platforms. Catch Ray live at the Cottiers Theatre in Glasgow on July 31st! Playlist: Listen along to key tracks on our curated Spotify Companion Playlist. Instagram: Say hello and see our latest spins @jamieb1NINE73Email: Got a music memory or a record story to share? Email us at TheFridayVinylClub@hotmail.com What album did you discover that felt like finding a lost chapter of your own life? Send us a message—we’d love to feature your musical "chapters" in a future episode!

Podcast Host Dave High's Memories of The Cure’s Seventeen Seconds: Music Is None of Business & Phoebe Bridgers

How does a cold, moody post-punk masterpiece on vinyl cure a childhood of 1970s radio? This week, Jamie sits down with Dave High (co-host of the Music Is None of Our Business podcast) to spin the skeletal, ghostly world of The Cure’s seminal second studio album, Seventeen Seconds. From a 1977 punk awakening sparked by The Stranglers to a legendary local record shop owner who ran a paper-round layaway plan, Dave shares his lifelong music obsession. They also dive into "The Curse of The Cure" (Dave's hilariously disastrous attempts to see the band live), how Olivia Rodrigo is introducing Robert Smith to a new generation, and why this 1980 gothic rock record remains an absolute must-have for vinyl collectors. EPISODE ROADMAP Intro & 1970s Childhood Memories: Watching Top of the Pops as a family ritual and early radio memories. The 1977 Punk Awakening: How The Stranglers' "No More Heroes" changed everything overnight. Keith’s Records: Nostalgic memories of vintage vinyl culture and paper-round layaway plans. The Curse of The Cure: A comedy of errors trying to see the band live, involving broken-down cars, ditches, and blizzards. Deep-Dive Album Chat: Exploring the minimalist, groundbreaking sound of The Cure's Seventeen Seconds.The Olivia Rodrigo Connection: How modern pop stars are introducing classic goth rock to a whole new generation.The Friday Spin: Dave highlights a modern alternative favorite that he shares with his daughters. SEVENTEEN SECONDS TRACK-BY-TRACK HIGHLIGHTS "Play for Today": Dave's standout memory track, instantly transporting him back to the passenger seat of a friend's car driving by the beach in Norfolk. "A Forest": The quintessential, hypnotic Cure masterpiece that has mutated across decades of live shows into a monumental goth-rock anthem. "At Night": Dave's personal favorite—a dark, solitary keyboard melody that perfectly captures the album’s beautiful, nighttime vibe. "A Reflection" & "The Final Sound": The haunting, skeletal bookends that prove how intentional the sequencing of this record truly is. THE FRIDAY SPIN RECOMMENDATION For this week's Friday Spin, Dave shares a modern indie classic guaranteed to bring some beautifully sad energy to your weekend playlist: Dave's Song Choice: Stranger in the Alps (Album) / "Motion Sickness" by Phoebe Bridgers. The Vibe: A stunning, emotional indie masterpiece from a brilliant songwriter who wears her diverse musical influences proudly on her sleeve. CONNECT WITH THE CLUB! Playlist: Listen along to key tracks on our curated Spotify Companion Playlist.Instagram: Say hello and see our latest spins @jamieb1NINE73Email: Got a music memory or a record story to share? Email us at TheFridayVinylClub@hotmail.com Note: The Cure's Seventeen Seconds discussion starts later in the episode! What album did you discover that felt like finding a lost chapter of your own life? Send us a message—we’d love to feature your musical "chapters" in a future episode!

Kajagoogoo Superfan Lulu's Memories of White Feathers: Meeting David Bowie, The Blitz Club, 80's music& Bob Marley

How does a South London teenager go from attending the opening night of the legendary Blitz Club at age 14 to cold-calling recording studios in the Yellow Pages to track down an unknown synth-pop band? This week, Jamie sits down with original super-fan Lulu to spin Kajagoogoo’s 1983 debut album, White Feathers. Lulu shares stories of growing up in Brixton, her backstage conversation with her hero David Bowie, crashing tour buses, and looking past "Too Shy" to explore the full story behind one of the most iconic pop debuts of the 1980s. EPISODE ROADMAP A South London Childhood: Growing up in Brixton where the Sunday Top 40 and Top of the Pops were family religion, soundtracked by David Bowie and her mum's love of "jolly tunes." The Alternative Awakening: How a late-night tape of Bauhaus's "Bela Lugosi's Dead" and hearing "Rapper's Delight" in 1979 opened up a world of post-punk and synth music. The Blitz Club Era: Stories from when Lulu's mum worked as the night manager at the Rock Garden, leading to an invitation to the opening night of the legendary Blitz Club at just 14 years old. Meeting the Starman Himself: An unforgettable 1990s moment when Lulu was invited into a tiny backstage bar and had a personal conversation with her ultimate hero, David Bowie. Becoming the Original Kajagoogoo Super Fan: Cold-calling London recording studios using the Yellow Pages before the band hit number one, crashing their tour bus, and a stunning dressing room reunion decades later. The Friday Spin: Lulu shines a light on an essential reggae masterpiece from a songwriting titan that everyone needs to experience on vinyl. WHITE FEATHERS TRACK-BY-TRACK HIGHLIGHTS "Too Shy": Lightning in a bottle, a slick, perfectly constructed pop masterpiece featuring an iconic bassline that still gets stuck in your head decades later. "Kajagoogoo": The band's instrumental high-energy tour opener, a piece of classic "album filler" that nevertheless triggered ear-piercing crowd screams live. "Hang On Now": The album's big ballad single following the classic 1980s three-single release formula, though Lulu routinely let the band know she wasn't a ballad fan. "Freghel (Freo)": An atmospheric, dark final track inspired by Poland trying to break away from the Iron Curtain, giving the record a distinct Eastern European quality. "Lies and Promises": One of Lulu's personal favorite cuts that keeps her coming back to the vinyl all these years later without skipping a track. THE FRIDAY SPIN RECOMMENDATION For this week's Friday Spin, Lulu selects a timeless album that sits comfortably alongside the work of David Bowie and Neil Finn: Lulu's Song Choice: Exodus (Album) by Bob Marley & The Wailers.The Vibe: An essential, timeless reggae masterpiece from a songwriting titan—an album everyone needs to experience spinning on vinyl at least once in their life. CONNECT WITH THE CLUB! Playlist: Listen along to key tracks on our curated Spotify Companion Playlist.Instagram: Say hello and see our latest spins @jamieb1NINE73Email: Got a music memory or a record story to share? Email us at TheFridayVinylClub@hotmail.com Note: The deep-dive discussion into Kajagoogoo's White Feathers starts around the 38-minute mark! What album did you discover that felt like finding a lost chapter of your own life? Send us a message, we’d love to feature your musical "chapters" in a future episode!

Record Collector Andrew Bronowski's Memories of Queen’s A Night at the Opera: Bohemian Rhapsody & Freddie Mercury

How does a Pittsburgh childhood soundtracked by Ukrainian church hymns and 80s soft rock evolve into building a thriving vinyl community and discovering the ultimate evening escape? This week, Jamie sits down with record collector and curator Andrew Bronowski (behind the Instagram page @cyncyvynyl) to spin Queen’s timeless 1975 masterpiece, A Night at the Opera. Andrew shares his journey from working at Barnes & Noble in the cassette era to using vinyl as a tool for mindfulness, exploring the sheer engineering genius behind "Bohemian Rhapsody," and why Queen intentionally trolled their former management. EPISODE ROADMAP A Pittsburgh Childhood: Soundtracked by his dad’s Ukrainian church hymns and his mum's deep obsession with soft rock radio—a palette that has now come full circle via the "Yacht Rock" revival. Curating Behind the Counter: Formative years working in the music department at Barnes & Noble at the tail end of the cassette tape era. The Ritual of Vinyl: How a grueling job in 2018 led Andrew to discover the ultimate evening escape: pouring a drink, dropping the needle, and finding peace in the grooves. The Instagram Vinyl Mindset: Digging into the origins of @cyncyvynyl, navigating a three-year review backlog, and using the platform as an unfiltered creative outlet. The Genius of Queen: Exploring the sheer engineering madness behind "Bohemian Rhapsody" and why the band chose to intentionally create extreme tonal whiplash on the record. The Friday Spin: Andrew highlights a pleasant, laid-back acoustic gem discovered on an early 2000s Napster forum. A NIGHT AT THE OPERA TRACK-BY-TRACK HIGHLIGHTS "Death on Two Legs": The ultimate 1970s rock diss track, where Freddie Mercury completely bypasses traditional singing to growl out a vicious attack on their former management. "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon": A breezy jump into traditional British music-hall vaudeville, deliberately sequenced for instant tonal contrast. "You're My Best Friend": John Deacon's beautifully grounded pop masterpiece that served as the band's critical commercial safety net. "The Prophet's Song": An intensive, 8-minute side-two prog epic featuring a staggering, stripped-back vocal canon section. "Bohemian Rhapsody": The chorus-less, engineered-to-death masterpiece that took 70 hours just to layer the iconic operatic section. THE FRIDAY SPIN RECOMMENDATION For this week's Friday Spin, Andrew shines a light on a wonderfully simple, laid-back acoustic track: Andrew's Song Choice: "Happy Anniversary" by Tim Rogers and the Twin Set.The Vibe: Discovered on an early 2000s Napster mixtape forum, this track from the Australian indie frontman is a pleasant, breezy tune that serves as the perfect musical palette cleanser for your weekend. CONNECT WITH THE CLUB! Playlist: Listen along to key tracks on our curated Spotify Companion Playlist.Instagram: Say hello and see our latest spins @jamieb1NINE73Email: Got a music memory or a record story to share? Email us at TheFridayVinylClub@hotmail.com Note: Queen's A Night at the Opera discussion starts around the 30-minute mark! What album did you discover that felt like finding a lost chapter of your own life? Send us a message—we’d love to feature your musical "chapters" in a future episode!

One for the Vinyl Den: Vol. 1 - June 2026: Wave to Earth, Flipturn, Solan Holt, Andrea Bejar & Dog Park

Welcome to the debut episode of One for the Vinyl Den, a new monthly music discovery series on the Friday Vinyl Club Podcast! Every month, host Ollie curates a personalized playlist of 5 emerging indie tracks he’s been spinning on Spotify and sends them over to Papa (Jamie) for a week of repeat listening. Then, they sit down in the studio to connect, debate what worked, and decide which single track earns the ultimate honor: being pressed onto an imaginary custom 7-inch vinyl record for the family den. For this first episode, Ollie’s goal was to actively challenge Papa’s traditional rock and vinyl palette. Moving away from the classic rock and throwback tunes they shared while Ollie was growing up, this curated tracklist leans heavily into modern dream pop, lo-fi indie, acoustic country, and global music discoveries. EPISODE ROADMAP A New Monthly Series: Introducing the One for the Vinyl Den discovery format and the dynamic between streaming vs. physical record collecting. Expanding the Palette: How Ollie built the June playlist to push Papa out of his classic rock comfort zone. Global Music & Travel: Discovering Korean indie in Seoul and how acoustic Latin music transcends language barriers. Debate & Discussion: Analyzing the five tracks, connecting over lyrics, and sharing family music memories. The Final Pressing: Papa makes his official decision on which song earns a spot on the custom 7-inch vinyl record. OLLIE'S JUNE PLAYLIST HIGHLIGHTS "Glistening" by Flipturn: A warm, atmospheric indie rock track out of Florida featuring a cinematic guitar riff that draws comparisons to Del Amitri, Crowded House, and U2. "Love" by Wave to Earth: Smooth, jazz-infused Korean dream pop discovered during a solo trip to Seoul, sharing striking similarities with Daniel Caesar. "Make Me Wonder" by Solan Holt: A vulnerable acoustic folk track exploring the quiet moments before a breakup, standing alongside storytelling country artists like Ella Langley and Morgan Wallen. "Despierto" by Andrea Bejar: A comforting, Latin acoustic piece centered on unconditional love and family that acts as a soothing entry point to global indie music. "Dream Walker" by Dog Park: The highest-energy track on the playlist, capturing a late-90s Britpop revival energy reminiscent of early Stereophonics and Two Door Cinema Club. THE 7-INCH VINYL DEN SELECTION After a week of repeat listening, debate, and consideration, Papa selects the winning track to be pressed to the family den's custom 7-inch vinyl. The Winner: Listen to the episode to find out which track took top honors!The Vibe: A seamless bridge between modern digital streaming curation and timeless physical record collecting. CONNECT WITH THE CLUB! Playlist: Listen along to all 5 tracks on our official One for the Vinyl Den companion playlist on Spotify.Instagram: Say hello, vote for your favorite track, or see our latest spins @jamieb1NINE73Email: Got a 5-track playlist challenge for us? Email us at TheFridayVinylClub@hotmail.com Which of these 5 tracks would you choose to press onto a 7-inch vinyl record for your own collection? Drop us a message or leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify—we’d love to feature your pick in the next episode!